Got a job as a discovery analyst (junior business analyst) at a large bank firm.

After months of being unemployed and somewhat giving up on life - I have finally got a job as a discovery analyst or in other words a business analyst at a large UK bank. I am in two states at the moment but happy to say the least.

The thing is, I have always come from a very technical background and the role I have been offered is very business orientated. It seems like consultancy too as I have been employed by the agency to work with the bank for a fixed term. I am expected to work there for 9 months max - after which point I become a free person again and I look to work elsewhere. The thing is, as I am a Computing student and more into programming and technical stuff, could I still say apply for graduate schemes starting in late 2017 (say post September) and other technical roles?

Some people told me to happily take this big opportunity as having a bank on your C.V will make you stand out of the crowd.

Any advice?

I'm assuming you're going through something like Resource Solutions to work as a contractor on a day rate for a fixed period etc.

My advice would be to take this as yes, it will look good on the CV, build your skills, expand your network, provide an income etc. and then apply in the next recruitment cycle for graduate roles (or the few that are still open).

Not sure what the Discovery Analyst thing is but you should expect it to be more broad and not that technically engaging/intensive. Try your best to make an impact while your there and get some stats so you can put this on your CV (i.e. worked on world's largest financial services transformation programme)

If worst happens, the agency will find another role for you but more often than not you can be redeployed or extended on the same project/bank.

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Yes thank you for your advice.

The only fear I had was, say if I applied for a graduate IT software development graduate scheme - how would 9 months of being a business analyst help? Won't they be like mate you graduated in 2016, went onto work for a large banking company as a business analyst and now you want to get back to what you studied at university??

Or, you can sack the job off and they'll say 'mate you graduated in 2016 and have been unemployed since'.

One option is significantly better than the other.

Yeah that is also true I guess.

I don't know. I guess I wasn't thinking too straight throughout my final year at university as I was too focused on getting my First Class degree and not say applying for graduate schemes. I went on holiday and came back in September, only to find that only smaller start-ups had jobs. I wasn't ready at the time to work and only now I get something big.

How confident are you that you can get a job in the industry you want in the next 9 months? Can you afford to live without a job for another 9 months possibly?

Once you've answered these questions you should know what to do. Any experience is better than sitting on your arse for a year though.

Well, I have already agreed to this job and will commit to it! It is just that this job is for a fixed-term amount which is great as I can't see myself doing it forever. My only concern was how it may affect me when I apply for technical jobs which is more kind of my meat and butter.

With a first class degree, if the job really isn't what you want to do, why not do a masters or PhD?

That definately looks good and it'll buy you more time.

...............

You shouldn't be hesitating. You have no experience and don't have a job. Take the offer and after 3 months focussing on the new role, start applying for the graduate tech roles you thought you wanted, permanent roles like the one you are in, and steps sideways from both of those - and hope in the following 6 months you get another offer.

Offers are too hard to come by to be choosy once you have one, especially if you have little or no experience and your judgement on fit with the role is entirely theoretical. Only doing the job will tell you what it is really like.

Who told you that I have no experience?

Well, I have taken it now but like I have said to the other posters, the only problem maybe applying to the graduate schemes

I guess I wasn't thinking too straight throughout my final year at university as I was too focused on getting my First Class degree and not say applying for graduate schemes. I went on holiday and came back in September, only to find that only smaller start-ups had jobs. I wasn't ready at the time to work and only now I get something big.

That describes next to no experience as far as employers are concerned.

Well I had a year of relevant experience before which is what influenced the banking group and agency to potentially give me a job now...

Well now that I am going to get more experience, what would be my next move in getting into a technical path? Should I still do a graduate scheme>

The thing is, like another poster has mentioned what do I do for say 9 months from now? The job market is difficult at the moment and even if I consider doing a masters which I am - I have to wait until October for the course to start. It is a long time to wait with no job or income. I only took this job which I haven't started yet because it is only temporary and it will update my employment history and maybe give me some business skill-sets

In that case, take the job and see what it's like but have a plan B, eg masters, PhD or something else.

If the job works out or you feel since you've got a steady income flowing, you find it difficult to motivate yourself to studying again, then stick with this job or look for another.

If on the other hand you find you'd rather return to your studies, then do just that.

BTW, there are some PhD programmes that start in Jan or is negotiable.